Police have charged two 12-year-old boys with allegedly lighting fires in the Coonamble area last week. Just before 6pm on Sunday 19 August 2018, emergency services responded to a house fire on Aberford Street, Coonamble. The fire was extinguished; no one was injured; however, the residence was completely destroyed. In a separate incident, emergency services were notified of four separate grass fires burning near the Castlereagh River last on Thursday, August 23. The fires were extinguished; no one was injured and no property was damaged. Following investigations by officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District, a 12-year-old boy was arrested over the house fire on Friday and taken to Dubbo Police Station. He was charged with intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread, and damage property by fire. The boy was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Tuesday, September 18. A second 12-year-old boy was also interviewed by police on Friday over the grass fires, however, he was released pending further inquiries. About 2.30pm on Saturday, emergency services were called to another grass fire burning near the Castlereagh River, Coonamble. The fire was extinguished before it got out of hand. Police were notified and as a result of inquiries a 12-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station where he was charged with five counts of intentionally cause fire and five counts of set fire to property of the Crown. He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Sunday, where he was refused bail again to appear in court on Monday. The boy was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday, September 10.

About 2.30pm on Saturday, emergency services were called to another grass fire burning near the Castlereagh River, Coonamble.

The fire was extinguished before it got out of hand.

Police were notified and as a result of inquiries a 12-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station where he was charged with five counts of intentionally cause fire and five counts of set fire to property of the Crown.

He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Sunday, where he was refused bail again to appear in court on Monday.

The boy was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday, September 10.